Chapter 13: Secrets Beneath the Surface
Lacy ran her fingers along the worn book spines, inhaling the scent of aged paper as she wandered the quiet aisles of the Book Nook. The bell above the door chimed, signaling a new arrival. Lacy barely glanced up, too absorbed in her search for something—anything—that might help them understand the strange things happening in Calypso Bay.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZXJpFSHHV
"Looking for something specific?" a voice asked.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpS9r1NS9fk
Lacy turned, startled by the presence of a woman she hadn't noticed before. She had long, dark waves of hair with hints of blue when the light caught it just right, and her sea-green eyes seemed to hold an entire ocean's worth of secrets. The woman's presence was oddly calming, yet something about her felt ancient, as if she had existed long before Calypso Bay itself.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5Hv6jiRvS
"I—uh, I was just browsing," Lacy said hesitantly.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXICTsZDrf
The woman smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You're looking for answers."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwHIcjLr0r
Lacy tensed. "Who are you?"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYwL5juLOM
The woman extended a hand. "Thalassa."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCCx2hkIKi
Lacy shook it cautiously. "Lacy."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoz1VxJlOj
"Be careful who you trust, Lacy," Thalassa said, her voice lowering. "Maddie Holloway isn't who she pretends to be. If you want to protect Chrissy, stay away from her."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgkLJib12Y
Lacy's heart pounded. "How do you know about Chrissy? Who are you really?"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6qwEKzQm4
Thalassa didn't answer. Instead, she took Lacy's wrist, gently fastening a bracelet around it. The centerpiece was an aquamarine gemstone, encased by iridescent cowrie shells that shimmered in the dim light. The moment it touched Lacy's skin, a strange warmth spread up her arm.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBON2nG2CH
"Make sure Chrissy gets this," Thalassa said. "She'll know what to do."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDUPqXFNIr
Before Lacy could ask another question, Thalassa gave her one last look and slipped out the door, disappearing as if she had never been there at all.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7vzR8sYw3
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Kyle sat cross-legged on the beach, frowning at the assortment of waterproof bags spread out in front of him. Nick stood nearby, arms crossed.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjbe5XEsMb
"You're overthinking it," Nick said.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuuVSzeLsN
Kyle scoffed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Have you ever tried delivering food to someone hiding in an underwater cave?"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEEv7hzsgc
Nick sighed. "No, but I feel like it shouldn't be this complicated."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXMe2Yn261
Kyle picked up a sandwich wrapped tightly in plastic. "We can't just throw a bunch of soggy sandwiches at her."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaChahGwJi
"Why not?"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhidMnrIxrt
Kyle shot him a look. "Because then she'll be eating soggy sandwiches."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zQffPPuzv
Nick rubbed his face. "Okay, fine. We need a way to keep them dry."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hKV5F1mzO
Kyle tapped his chin. "We could—"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBoLhKvEUy
"Overthinking," Nick warned.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTmT2n9jYG
Kyle groaned. "Okay, okay. I'll just double-bag everything."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXkXMSsS4n
As they debated the best way to waterproof Chrissy's food, a shadow fell over them. They looked up to see a woman standing at the edge of the beach, watching them with amusement.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFrcGZ7FA3
"You two look like you're planning something interesting," she said.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmGhefIXdY
Kyle quickly shoved the food behind him. "Nope. Not at all. Totally normal day."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVdCTMYoVd
The woman tilted her head. "Packing food for an underwater friend?"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvao7bauMl
Kyle's eyes widened. "I—uh—what?"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlUOKENunT
She smiled knowingly. "Nice to meet you, Kyle. And you, Nick."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTkn8LYN5q
Nick stiffened. "How do you—"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7uBvxeW8f
Thalassa turned to Nick, her expression unreadable. "Make sure Chrissy gets the bracelet."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucnW784EGP
Then, without another word, she walked away, leaving both of them staring after her.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuN6i7f9S4L
It took a moment before Nick turned to Kyle. "How did she—"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2xoKSuWM2
Kyle shook his head. "Dude, I have no idea."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6ItaiKNzR
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Nick entered the Book Nook, brushing sand off his hands. He barely had time to register the quiet atmosphere before Lacy grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the back of the store.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNfO6rlI8t
"You're not gonna believe what just happened," she whispered urgently.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl53Mn5hUzn
Nick raised a brow. "Okay, slow down. What happened?"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAzJJU2s0k
Lacy glanced around, making sure no one was listening. "A woman—Thalassa—came in earlier. She knew about Chrissy, Nick. And she warned me about Maddie."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3tHxzugLL
Nick stiffened. "Maddie?"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZExqNzfNBA
"She told me Maddie isn't who she pretends to be," Lacy said. "And then she gave me this." She lifted her wrist, revealing the bracelet with the aquamarine gemstone. "She said Chrissy needs it."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkftgvYI4T
Nick stared at it, his mind racing. It looked eerily similar to the compass-like artifact Chrissy had found. "You're sure she just gave it to you?"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtSgN5QVSZ
Lacy nodded. "She fastened it on me before I could even react."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlrHe2mNKe
Nick exhaled slowly. "She knew too much."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFtFXtFEQi
Lacy frowned. "You think she's involved?"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxF1OVCBzo
"I think," Nick said, his gaze darkening, "we need to find out exactly who Thalassa is."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvQIOQlnAn
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Later that evening, Lacy found herself in the upstairs section of the Book Nook, running her fingers along the spines of old books. Something caught her eye—a thick, leather-bound volume titled The Genealogical Trees of the Founding Families of Calypso Bay.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwneCrLhWp3
Curious, she pulled it from the shelf and flipped through its pages. The names were neatly arranged in alphabetical order. She skimmed through them until she reached the "H" section.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggxHNFlLSw
Her breath caught.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rYl8RDIiM
Holloway.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVj5iIgYXI
Her stomach twisted. Maddie had sworn her family was new to town. But if her last name was in this book, that meant her family had been part of Calypso Bay for generations.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3w9xilxTJ
She barely had time to process the revelation before the bell downstairs chimed. Maddie's voice floated up.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGl8f6jIGva
Heart pounding, Lacy shoved the book back into its place and hurried downstairs, schooling her expression as she approached Maddie.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRs2v6VP4B
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Back on the beach, Nick and Kyle were still processing their strange encounter with the mysterious woman. 104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80Hhm5WFM4
Kyle broke the silence. "So... she knew our names."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4fs0TiwjO
Nick nodded slowly. "And she knew about the bracelet."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUY1kqjKPP
Kyle hesitated. "Do you think—"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWkowneijc
Nick's mind clicked into place, the realization hitting him like a wave. "It's her. Thalassa. The same woman who warned Lacy about Maddie."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IWrObmq0C
Kyle's eyes widened. "Wait... what?"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5FvwOKn8E
Nick turned, looking in the direction Thalassa had disappeared. "She's been watching us. Helping Chrissy. She's involved in this somehow."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6JChOFtln
Kyle frowned. "So... friend or foe?"104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2WZmZbaiF
Nick clenched his jaw. "That's what we need to find out."104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd47s9KpwnR
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